Hello!
It’s been a while since I posted an update on The Texel Project I started a few months ago.
With a few designs drafted out, I began knitting with a gorgeous chunky weight yarn (though knitting up closer to an aran tension) I found from World of Wool.
And what a delightful fabric it created too! So cuddle-worthy!
And then things took a turn I wasn’t quite expecting. No one else sells a 100% Texel yarn.
It’s this chunky weight, or this chunky weight.
My designs need a fingering weight for the next part.
I’ve scoured the Internet.
I emailed yarn mills to see if they know anyone. Nothing. And they require a rather hefty minimum quantity to spin some for me.
I read every entry on the Woolsack website. There are four entries that mention Texel. Only one has a fingering weight but no one responded.
I asked British Wool. They came up with a lady who had some done. But again no response to emails.
I even asked in a farming forum on Facebook if any Texel farmers had some privately spun that they would be willing to sell. They were very helpful to suggest places to ask, but nothing themselves.
So I’m at a bit of a loss right now.
My one option, to have a batch spun, is financially out of reach. So unless there is a sudden mad rush of orders over at Fated Yarns and I sell out, it doesn’t look like I’m getting what I need right now.
I will continue with this project though. After knitting with this yarn, even in just this short time, I have become absolutely smitten with it. Texel yarn has a great deal of potential. But despite being the most widely kept breed of sheep in the UK, it seems to be one of the most undervalued for yarn. But I need some time to think.
If you have any suggestions please do leave a comment.
1 Comment
Graham Langhorne · 5th January 2021 at 7:53 am
one of the issues with British breeds is that the micron count is usually too big for fine yarn. the Texel chunky is is soft due to the fact that it is made using a light airy spin/ply which you can only do for ‘fat’ yarn. For Texel to be spun as a 4ply, it needs to be spun tighter which makes it lose it softness. If you look on the World of Wool website you will notice that the British breeds are usually in the heavier weights.